A comment two-faced web: Werther vs Papageno

The role that the internet, particularly social media, might have in suicide behavior is a topic of growing interest and debate. In comments to the narrative review by S. Totaro et al. the role of the "vulnerability - distress" model is underlined when explaining how suicide behavior is influenced by the internet (social media). The role that the internet and social media can play in terms of suicidal behavior is double-natured: stimulating (provoking) and protective (antisuicidal). The role of the internet as a risk factor of suicide for certain population groups (adolescents and young people) is shown on examples of national and foreign mass media. Those would be the same population groups that tend to avoid typical mental health care because of stigma and their low compliance with the real elastic needs. It is a known fact that people vulnerable to suicide, especially depressed or socially isolated, gravitate to the internet more than others. Such persons are easily suggestible and prone to get together in ‘death groups’. Besides imposing restrictive legislative measures (e.g., monitoring, closing prosuicide sites), antisuicide websites «in the white zone» should be designed and promoted, where those in need could discuss actual problems of suicide behavior with professionals or volunteers who successfully overcame their critical situations, get online help, self report on their suicide behavior. Distance training of professionals can also be provided in such websites. More research is needed on the degree and extent of social media's negative and positive influences, as well as evaluations of the effectiveness of social media-based suicide prevention programs especially for teenagers and youth. Further examination of target subpopulations (e.g., adolescents and young adults) that might be most vulnerable to suicide-promoting influences of social media is indispensable. An important condition for the development of internet suicide prevention is evidence-based information for high risk group persons, professionals, and volunteers. Many websites, including those sponsored by the federal government and national organizations, need to improve the evidence-based quality of the information.